ATI vs Kessil Vs Orphek

K916 · 05/09/2014, 10:41 AM

Guys, Im an absolute lighting noob, so please excuse the ignorance. I have searched but couldn't find a thread which has a compared the three lighting systems mentioned above

I'm looking to light up my FOWLR with optimum LED lighting to encourage coralline growth but I may just venture into softies in the future, so I want to invest in the best lighting just in case

Factors to consider are:

- ease of installation and operation
- spectrum
- non cluttered look when mounted
- build quality and value for money
- technology

I haven't been impressed with my MP40's at all and therefore haven't included the Radion's in my list

Any help on the above or suggestions on a better manufacturer which I've missed will be appreciated

thanks all and sorry again for the noob question

K916 · 05/09/2014, 10:46 AM

should have included Giesemann too

Tron_954 · 05/09/2014, 10:47 AM

If your doing fish only, just grab the cheapest and most convenient form of LED available....

spoon671 · 05/09/2014, 10:49 AM

Kessil A350 or A360.

clay12340 · 05/09/2014, 10:59 AM

Those seem sort of hard to compare as they're pretty different.

The kessils are LED pendants.

I think the only LEDs ATI offers are the powermodules which are LED/T5 combos.

Orphek offers a few different styles of LED lighting.

I think of the 3 the ATI is probably going to give the most pleasant look/best spectrum due to having T5s to supplement the LEDs, but it's also the most expensive and least easy to use since you'll be changing T5 bulbs.

The Kessils probably look the cleanest when installed to my eyes, but that's totally subjective and none of them look bad if you take a little time to manage the cords.

K916 · 05/09/2014, 11:18 AM

Hi Tron, thanks for your reply. The mrs is sympathetic towards the cause ever since my tank leaked last week, so I want a good investment rather than just a quick fix as she will not take kindly to an upgrade if I decide to go reef later

Spoon, your fixture looks great. How many 360's would I need for a 5 foot x 2 feet x 2 feet aquarium (150x60x60cms)? the website isn't very informative

spoon671 · 05/09/2014, 11:22 AM

I would do 2 A350/360W, placed 2 feet apart.

For reference, here's a pic of a 350/360W placed over a 3' x 2' x 1' tank.

FlyPenFly · 05/09/2014, 11:24 AM

GHL Mitras 6200 or 6100.

Setup is a bit of a pain because their PC software is crazy but once dialed in, it's in between coverage of not creating shadows on my SPS branches is perhaps better than my old ATI Sunpower 8 bulb.

Tron_954 · 05/09/2014, 11:25 AM

Well, it seems odd you will be spending for the better equipment, may as well add coral to get the most of the lights! I also suggest the Kessil. 350 or 360, just get the "w" models...

spoon671 · 05/09/2014, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyPenFly

GHL Mitras 6200 or 6100.

Setup is a bit of a pain because their PC software is crazy

Quote:

Originally Posted by K916

Factors to consider are:

- ease of installation and operation

rynoe · 05/09/2014, 11:48 AM

If you are interetsed I have three orphek pr-156 fixtures that I am selling. They are the original fixtures and do not have any of the bells and whistles but they are great fixtures and worked well when I had my sps tank set up.

FlyPenFly · 05/09/2014, 12:23 PM

The excellent of the GHL is worth the difficulty on setting it up. The Kessils are great for shine but are terrible unless you're using at least two at angles. SPS colonies get harsh shadows without angled overlap. Where you have shadows you have death, tissue loss or browning. The Kessils are also not very adjustable in color balance, they need to catch up. Just like Maxspect Razors, with just 2 channel control, its going to look either too harsh white or koolaid. This is honestly the old days of LEDs when with lights like the Sols you could only adjust an A or B channel and LED's received terrible reputations because of it.

The benefit of full spectrum lighting is that corals aren't white or just blue. There's a lot of subtle variation that are lost with these white/blue lights.

The only lights I would consider are lights with multiple individual diodes that contain the right colors like the Radions, Hydras, GHL Mitras, Orphek Atlantik's, etc.

spoon671 · 05/09/2014, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyPenFly

Where you have shadows you have death, tissue loss or browning.

Point taken. The logical response would be that..

A: Natural reefs have shadows.

B: Coral placement is definitely key when using single light source.

As a side note, I'm curious to know if anyone has ever attempted to light a tank through three sides of glass, and from the top...ya know, to eliminate shadows. Ugh, those damn shadows. No one likes them, and they don't even know it. So annoying.

FlyPenFly · 05/09/2014, 12:32 PM

Yes, it works well if you keep the glass clean.

spoon671 · 05/09/2014, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyPenFly

Yes, it works well if you keep the glass clean.

Allmost · 05/09/2014, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyPenFly

Yes, it works well if you keep the glass clean.

and use Starphire / low Iron glass. or acrylic.
regular glass would make the color greenish ...

tofucube · 05/09/2014, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoon671

Kessil A350 or A360.

That is a really cool hanging arm/gooseneck. Really like the fact that the wires are hidden away. I was trying to read the mfg name but can't get a clear read on it because of the angle in one of the pictures. Who makes that? Thanks!

spoon671 · 05/09/2014, 06:56 PM

Kessil mount can be had here: http://www.lerussodesigns.com/main.sc

Av8bluewater · 05/09/2014, 08:13 PM

Kessil shimmer is the best I've ever seen. Since it's Fish only with a few corals that don't demand much I would choose Kessil...That is if you really want to spend that much money. You certainly don't have to unless you want that shimmer. I have an ATI Sunpower.. great product. German made excellent quality. The powermodule will be an expensive light for FOWLR.

Reefsi · 05/09/2014, 08:19 PM

I have 6 Kessils supplemented with an ATI 60" T5 powermodule. I have had the tank up and running now for a little over a month. I have already put in about 20 different frags all SPS, acros, montis, milles, along with a clam and acans. All I can say is I stand by Kessil 100%. Its a 31" deep tank and I have Red Fusion Accros, Strawberry Accros, and Tricolor Valida all at mid to lower in my tank and its amazing the color they have. At first they lost it and now they have regained it twice as much as when they first arrived. I am running my kessils at 70% down to 30%(100% whitest, 0% bluest) and 50%-90% intensity and its getting the job done flawlessly. All powered and ramped by Apex.

05/09/2014, 10:41 AM	#1
K916 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 73	ATI vs Kessil Vs Orphek Guys, Im an absolute lighting noob, so please excuse the ignorance. I have searched but couldn't find a thread which has a compared the three lighting systems mentioned above I'm looking to light up my FOWLR with optimum LED lighting to encourage coralline growth but I may just venture into softies in the future, so I want to invest in the best lighting just in case Factors to consider are: - ease of installation and operation - spectrum - non cluttered look when mounted - build quality and value for money - technology I haven't been impressed with my MP40's at all and therefore haven't included the Radion's in my list Any help on the above or suggestions on a better manufacturer which I've missed will be appreciated thanks all and sorry again for the noob question

05/09/2014, 10:49 AM	#4
spoon671 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The East Bay Posts: 948	ATI vs Kessil Vs Orphek Kessil A350 or A360. __________________ - Enthusiast, In Transit Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo 16 Mixed Reef

05/09/2014, 11:18 AM	#6
K916 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 73	Hi Tron, thanks for your reply. The mrs is sympathetic towards the cause ever since my tank leaked last week, so I want a good investment rather than just a quick fix as she will not take kindly to an upgrade if I decide to go reef later Spoon, your fixture looks great. How many 360's would I need for a 5 foot x 2 feet x 2 feet aquarium (150x60x60cms)? the website isn't very informative Last edited by K916; 05/09/2014 at 11:37 AM.

05/09/2014, 11:22 AM	#7
spoon671 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The East Bay Posts: 948	ATI vs Kessil Vs Orphek I would do 2 A350/360W, placed 2 feet apart. For reference, here's a pic of a 350/360W placed over a 3' x 2' x 1' tank. __________________ - Enthusiast, In Transit Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo 16 Mixed Reef

05/09/2014, 12:23 PM	#12
FlyPenFly SPS Killer Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,490	The excellent of the GHL is worth the difficulty on setting it up. The Kessils are great for shine but are terrible unless you're using at least two at angles. SPS colonies get harsh shadows without angled overlap. Where you have shadows you have death, tissue loss or browning. The Kessils are also not very adjustable in color balance, they need to catch up. Just like Maxspect Razors, with just 2 channel control, its going to look either too harsh white or koolaid. This is honestly the old days of LEDs when with lights like the Sols you could only adjust an A or B channel and LED's received terrible reputations because of it. The benefit of full spectrum lighting is that corals aren't white or just blue. There's a lot of subtle variation that are lost with these white/blue lights. The only lights I would consider are lights with multiple individual diodes that contain the right colors like the Radions, Hydras, GHL Mitras, Orphek Atlantik's, etc. Last edited by FlyPenFly; 05/09/2014 at 12:28 PM.

05/09/2014, 10:46 AM	#2
K916 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 73	should have included Giesemann too

05/09/2014, 10:47 AM	#3
Tron_954 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 940	If your doing fish only, just grab the cheapest and most convenient form of LED available....

05/09/2014, 10:59 AM	#5
clay12340 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Bloomington, Indiana Posts: 312	Those seem sort of hard to compare as they're pretty different. The kessils are LED pendants. I think the only LEDs ATI offers are the powermodules which are LED/T5 combos. Orphek offers a few different styles of LED lighting. I think of the 3 the ATI is probably going to give the most pleasant look/best spectrum due to having T5s to supplement the LEDs, but it's also the most expensive and least easy to use since you'll be changing T5 bulbs. The Kessils probably look the cleanest when installed to my eyes, but that's totally subjective and none of them look bad if you take a little time to manage the cords.

05/09/2014, 11:24 AM	#8
FlyPenFly SPS Killer Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,490	GHL Mitras 6200 or 6100. Setup is a bit of a pain because their PC software is crazy but once dialed in, it's in between coverage of not creating shadows on my SPS branches is perhaps better than my old ATI Sunpower 8 bulb.

05/09/2014, 11:25 AM	#9
Tron_954 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 940	Well, it seems odd you will be spending for the better equipment, may as well add coral to get the most of the lights! I also suggest the Kessil. 350 or 360, just get the "w" models...

05/09/2014, 11:48 AM	#11
rynoe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 94	If you are interetsed I have three orphek pr-156 fixtures that I am selling. They are the original fixtures and do not have any of the bells and whistles but they are great fixtures and worked well when I had my sps tank set up.

05/09/2014, 12:32 PM	#14
FlyPenFly SPS Killer Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,490	Yes, it works well if you keep the glass clean.

05/09/2014, 06:56 PM	#18
spoon671 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The East Bay Posts: 948	Kessil mount can be had here: http://www.lerussodesigns.com/main.sc __________________ - Enthusiast, In Transit Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo 16 Mixed Reef

05/09/2014, 08:13 PM	#19
Av8bluewater Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 763	Kessil shimmer is the best I've ever seen. Since it's Fish only with a few corals that don't demand much I would choose Kessil...That is if you really want to spend that much money. You certainly don't have to unless you want that shimmer. I have an ATI Sunpower.. great product. German made excellent quality. The powermodule will be an expensive light for FOWLR. Last edited by Av8bluewater; 05/09/2014 at 08:20 PM.

05/09/2014, 08:19 PM	#20
Reefsi Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Crown Point, Indiana Posts: 464	I have 6 Kessils supplemented with an ATI 60" T5 powermodule. I have had the tank up and running now for a little over a month. I have already put in about 20 different frags all SPS, acros, montis, milles, along with a clam and acans. All I can say is I stand by Kessil 100%. Its a 31" deep tank and I have Red Fusion Accros, Strawberry Accros, and Tricolor Valida all at mid to lower in my tank and its amazing the color they have. At first they lost it and now they have regained it twice as much as when they first arrived. I am running my kessils at 70% down to 30%(100% whitest, 0% bluest) and 50%-90% intensity and its getting the job done flawlessly. All powered and ramped by Apex. __________________ If you can't test for it, Dont add it! Current Tank Info: 240 Gallon DT + 100 Gallon Sump, 2 MP-40's, 6 Kessil A360's, 60" ATI 4x80w, Geo 624 CR, GAC, GFO, Skimz 201 Skimmer. All powered by APEX!